Beetle-Experience

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Did you find anything in Davis? We are heading out there in a few weeks.

...Absolutely! I think so too! If we can get enough in the hands of people who can breed them..

...AND, apparently, the guys who have access to them don't know how to breed beetles. I know for sure they one who only sells to Japan doesn't even try to breed them.

Because there is not much in the part of TX that they come from, the hobbyists who have them tend to sit on them (not sell them, or in one case - only sell to Japan), and the people who know where they are don't share any of the information. I've driven down to that part of TX, setup a lights and came back with nothing. Have offered to buy from multiple people and also have asked several people for hints on where to look.. nothing yet (it's been years). Many more people (including myself) collect south of Tucson at well-known locations that are on public land and are easy to get to - and also in the time of year when all the other inverts are out. M.v., on the other hand, is found in the fall.

I spoke to APHIS a few years ago about importing substrate from Japan, but after quite a bit of conversation they said it wouldn't really be feasible / possible. I know when I import beetles there can't be any soil - or anything that even looks like soil - in the shipment. I'm not sure how plant importers operate (I guess that might be why we get the odd invasive every once in a while, like Popillia japonica). I think imported soil has to go through a sterilization process at port of entry

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/84834-Lucanus-elaphus/browse_photos?place_id=7

Have you tried i-Nat?

There are still some parking lots that haven't changed over to LED lights - if you don't want to setup a light rig try a few parking lots that are close to wooded areas without much other light pollution. We have been hitting the same spots here in Louisiana for years and they still beat blacklighting.

I keep the substrate shallow and place the pellets right in front of them when I feed them

scottbot84 - do you need some pupation substrate? I don't have any posted on the site but should be able to get you set up

I didn't find anything last time, but I had a few of the times before.

Last time I went down to Rio Rico it didn't feel the same. There were border patrol agents parked around.. I looked for just a little while and left.

I had done research on importing Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles) with several emails and calls to APHIS/FWS and USDA Veterinary Services, and as I mentioned earlier, all Scarabaeinae are ok to import (with FWS license) as long as they are not from a country with a history of "Hand, foot, and mouth disease". This came from the head of USDA Veterinary Services and the head entomologist at APHIS/PPQ. Any dung beetle native to the US is free to move about without permits. Anything else that doesn't come from the list of countries with "hoof and mouth" and is imported under FWS is free to move after it is imported (like tarantulas).

I am/was hoping to find more literature and breeding reports on things like Argyrophegges, Fornasinius and Hegemus to try to help my case for also allowing these species in the U.S. I have talked to a few breeders but need more concrete evidence. I have also been searching for a reputable source for some of the South American Scarabaeinae.. there is a whole bunch of interesting species like Phanaeus lancifer ! Most of the people I have found deal in heavily in Lepidoptera.